Gov't to take over Moneague College for police training

The Government is seeking to take over the historic Moneague College in St Ann to provide advanced training for members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang made the announcement last week while addressing a crime and security forum in St Catherine.

"We are already seeking to take over much of the Moneague Teachers' College to have advanced training for police officers.

We are looking at how we can ensure we can train our police officers to the highest level," Chang said.

The security minister told citizens that Government is interested in training for cops, not only tangible resources such as motor vehicles and improved police stations.

At the same meeting, Chang complained that the JCF does little to recognise cops who are getting degrees and advancing themselves.

He mentioned the scores of academically inclined youth who joined the JCF because of financial restraints that prevented them for directly enrolling in a university programme but would later attain degrees. He said they often migrate because they are not promoted.

"Our force doesn't recognise those people. They remain corporals for a long time. The young, bright people, they cant wait too long ... They migrate.

"You have children of police officers coming in, and they have to wait 20 years after having two degrees to become an officer. It doesn't make sense," the security minister lamented.

Chang also claimed that academically qualified cops are sometimes overlooked, while others with connections to politicians and senior officers are promoted.

"If there is not enough promotional space, they have to seek support from some politician or some senior superintendent of police to get them promoted. [It doesn't happen] on the basis of their talents," he said.